"Suicide Bombers," "Cemetery Boys" and "Gender Dysphoria" are just some of the books found in Mobile County Public School (MCPS) libraries.
While school libraries are meant for educational purposes, some say these socially divisive materials have no business being in schools.
The issues began in Baldwin County, where board of education (BOE) member Ken Bradley raised concerns about middle and high school libraries. While discussing those concerns, he mentioned that he found some of the same books in Mobile County Public Schools.
"Suicide Bombers: Foot Soldiers of the Terrorist Movement" by Elaine Landau describes how to recruit and train young individuals in a terrorist group and how to influence them to carry out suicide attacks.
"Cemetery Boys" by Aiden Thomas is about a "trans boy" who summons a ghost. It was the first book by a transgender author featuring a trans character on the New York Times Bestseller List.
"Gender Dysphoria" by Rose McCarthy offers resources for children and teens dealing with gender dysphoria.
When Mobile County school board commissioner Johnny Hatcher read the story in 1819 News, he decided to do some research.
"I've seen some books that are very troubling to me that deal with school shootings," Hatcher told 1819 News. "You know, it pretty much maps out school shootings that happened in the past, and 'If I were a school shooter, how would I do it?' Things like that. I think that is just absolutely very, very dangerous to put those books in our classrooms for our children to see."
Hatcher said he is still gathering information online and going to school libraries. He hopes to discuss with all board members to encourage them to look at the libraries of schools in their districts.
"I have been told there's some very sexually explicit material in some of our elementary schools that should not be there," he said. "Now, I've yet to find that, so please, let's make that clear. It's rumored, but I've yet to find it, but I am looking."
Hatcher said he hopes that after a thorough investigation, the BOE can reach a consensus on how to monitor incoming books.
When asked about the books and who chooses which books are placed in school libraries, the MCPS director of communication told 1819 News, "We have a form that parents can fill out at their child's school if they have concerns about a book."
Phillips refused to acknowledge questions about the book selection process.
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